Device for plugging sprinkler-heads.



Ne v 884,436. PATENTED APR. 14, 1908.

A. Y. THORNTON & A. L. MUNROE.

DEVICE FOR PLUGGING SPRINKLER HEADS.

' APPLICATION FILED N0V.21,1907.

I in

; have nvented a ALBERT Y. rno nn'rouanoaa'rnnn L. Morison, ori'onnsron,

.Be it known that we, ALBnn'r Y. Trienn- ToN and ARTHUR L. Mnnnon, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Johnston, in the county of Providence, State of Rhode Island,

' new and useful Device for PluggingSprinkler-Heads, of which the following 1s a specification.

- This invention relates to a device for plugging sf rinkler-heads of that class that are arrange within a building and are adapted heads which shall automatically to discharge a spray of water in case of fire in an apartment or room where they arelocater'le The invention is intended primarily, to

provide a novel and eflicient means fr closingor plu ging a sprinkler-head should its Va ve accir ehtally be dislodged, thereb per niittin the water to escape to the detriment of the uilding or of any goods within its effective area.

As sprinkler-heads of this character are general y supplied with water from a COIllmon source, it not ossibie to out off the supply from a single head in case its valve becomes accidenta 1y displaced and owing to this fact considerable damage frequently arises from the escape of water accompanying such accident. V

The object of the present invention is to. provide, as a new article of manufacture, an attachment for a plication. to sprinklerhe effective in promptly lugging the escape orifices in the sprinkleread, and further to adapt such attachment automatically to be released in case of fire, whereby the sprinkler will be as effective as though it had the ordinary. valve and its'fixtures applied thereto.

With the above and other ob'ects in view as will appear as the natureof-t e invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction and combination of arts s, as

of a closure or plug for sprinkler hear will be hereinafter fully described claimed. v

In the accompanying drawings, formin a part of this specification, and in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding arts: Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, (lisp aying a sprinklenhead equipped with the closure or plug of the resent invention. Fig. 2 IS a view in vertica longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional detail .view in elevation of a portion ofthe attachment. Fig. 4 1s a perspective detail and i Specification 0i Letters Patoht. I Application fiied lfi'oveinber 21, 1507. Seriai No. sea-e15.

view ofthe closure. detail view oi aper .6 1s a new in slde 'wit t us to secure a arms 5 which have arranged-at th gage with the seat 7, and adjacent ,nnvzcn nos. Panorama seam-meanness.

' Fat" her of the closure taii View 0? a part Referring to the r the valve casing c' as usual, is prov sion by which i water'suppiy pipe, pnragnrvalve seat 7 tion andwhich, as isadapted siightiy to lie or In when the saint *-ti, ht pending fromtherim a of the diaphi;

ends a seat 6, such as is common xvi tures of this ci'iaracjter. I The feature of noveit of the pi vention resides the closure whic. in detail in Fig; i.

a handle or lever 2', one end of which. 1

larged and 15 provided -Vv'li3i1 a broad cam surface 8 that is enacted to terminal of the cam with a stop 01'' sh 9 that will'operate to limit the mover the lever, in one direction, relative seat. Opposite the cam there is provided a seat 10; the end walii'l of which is inciined transversely of the length of the handle and isdesignedto be engaged by the beveledterminal 12 of the shank 13 of the ping- 14-, this latter being hemisgherical in ceni" f in order to engage wit the orifice of n diaphragm. Tne shank is held within the seat by solder designated by 15, and this, as will be apparent, will fuse under the action of heat, thereby permitting theshanh to hecome disconnected and-escape laterally from connection with the handle and thus 941k)?! the water to escape through the orifice in the diaphragm. This latter feature is" one of great im ortance, inasmuch as, it the sprin- I011 ler-hea' is provided with "this emergency closure, and a fire should occur that would prevent an attendant from reiees'ing the lug, it will of its own accord, owlngto the sible connection of the shank 13 therewith, become disconnected from the sprinklerhead and thus allow the Water to escape.

As an additionalfea'ture of novelty, means I is provided by which the plug maybe attac without the employment of a ladder, whereby not only is the manipulation of the device facilitated, but the loss by fire and damage by Water that frequently results, owing to 'rectan ular in cross section and is longitudina ly tapered to receive the similarly I shaped termmal. 19 of the lever 7, the latter being provided with a shoulder or stop to limit its insertion within the seat. In positioning a plug, it will only be necessary to dispose the terminal 19 of t e lever within the seat'18, insert the lug 14 in the valve seat 3, and then draw own upon the pole,

whereupon the cam surface 8 will ride upon the seat 6 and thereby close the discharge 0 ening. The reverse of this rocedure is 0 served when the plug is to e removed,

' Whereas under such contingency the pole is merely pushed upward.

The improvements herein defined, while simple in character, will be found thoroughly eflicient for the purposes designed and will result in a large saving to merchants from loss of goods by a fire and water.

Having thus fully described the invention what is claimed is 1. As a new article of manufacture, a

closure for sprinkler-heads embod ing a handle having'a seat, the end wall 0 which is beveled transversely to the length of the handle, and a plug rovided witha shank fusibly held within tie seat and having its end beveled to engage the said wall.

; 2. As anew article of manufacture, a closure for sprinkler-heads embodying a handle having a cam on one side thereof and a seat opposite the cam, and a plug having a shank fusibly held within the 'seat.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a closure for sprinkler heads embodyin a haiidle having a cam on one side thereof' at projects laterally beyond the handle and a seat opposite the cam and a plug having a.

shank fusibly held within the seat.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own, We have hereto affixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT Y THORNTON. ARTHUR L. MUNROE.

Witnesses:

CLAYTON M. CHAon, HOWARD B. Bares-s 

